Wait Until Dark? But I Want It Now!

This Friday I am opening a production of Wait Until Dark at DalekoArts in New Prague, Minnesota. It’s a charming little theatre nestled in between brick facades on main street that just begs for you to take a peek inside. And what will you find in there? Well, right now I whole lot of lighting instruments, building material, sound equipment, the occasional empty pizza box and a team of devoted artists working tirelessly on this show to get it ready for opening. So come on opening night and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

You’ll laugh! You’ll scream! You’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat in this adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the Audrey Hepburn movie of 1967. I have not seen it yet myself, but I am very much looking forward to settling in one October night (so soon!) and putting it on. I hear it is actually quite suspenseful, which it better be because the play certainly is!

The first time I read it I was clutching my hair, eagerly anticipating the finale. Maybe I just love this type of pulp storytelling too much, but if you want to see theatre that is going to fill you with dread then this is it. Set in NYC in 1944, it tells the story of a group of professional thieves trying to get a hold of a certain MacGuffin that happens to be in the possession of a blind woman with enough cunning to give them a run for their money.

For my part, I get to play Sam, the husband. He’s a photographer who had a rough time over in Italy so he’s back in the States trying to hold down a career and keep his marriage together. To make things worse for the guy, he’s even in the way of the crooks, so they concoct a story to get him out of the picture. And wouldn’t you know it, the poor sap falls for it and leaves his wife alone to fend off the criminals. You’ll be on the edge of your seat just waiting for Sam to come home!

But honestly though, I couldn’t be having a greater time with this show. I love this genre and have always wanted to do something like this. I even get to light and smoke a cigarette on stage! An e-cig, sure, but these are things our imaginations can latch on to and end up having a heckuva lot of fun with. The cast and crew have been stellar, DalekoArts has really been superb to work for and our director, Anne Byrd, is top-notch. There is no good reason to not come out to New Prague between September 11 and October 4 and see Wait Until Dark.

OK, so the show takes a break between September 18-20 but that’s because there is a CZECH FESTIVAL in town so there’s still no excuse to not want to go to New Prague. Really. It’s not that far. There’s even a swanky little wine bar across the street where you’ll find yourself having as much fun as these guys.